International Financial Institution

The Latin American Carbon Forum is a regional platform established to promote knowledge and information sharing on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) while facilitating business-opportunity environments among main carbon market stakeholders. This Forum is organized by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Risøe Centre, the World Bank, the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and International Emissions Trading Association (IETA).

13 May 2010: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) is providing support through the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme Initiative to indigenous communities to record the impacts of climate change on their habitat. The videos produced will aim to support climate resilience and grassroots actions for policy change.

May 2010: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank's Carbon Finance Unit and others have published a guidebook titled "Bringing Forest Carbon Projects to the Market." The objective of the publication is to guide project developers and financial investors on developing and implementing profitable forestry projects in the carbon markets.

12 May 2010: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has finalized its Fifth Replenishment negotiations, with over 30 countries pledging US$4.25 billion to fund projects with global environmental benefits during the next four years.

The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) were established under the UNFCCC and are managed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The LDCF addresses the adaptation needs of the LDCs. The SCCF finances activities, programmes and measures relating to climate change that are complementary to those funded by the resources allocated to the Climate Change Focal Area of the GEF and by bilateral and multilateral funding.

11 May 2010: The 41st meeting of the Standing Committee (SC) of the Rasmar Convention on Wetlands took place in Kobuleti, Georgia, from 26 April-1 May 2010. Opening the meeting, Giorgi Khachidze, Minister of Environment Protection and Natural Resources, Georgia, emphasized the importance of wetlands, especially in the era of climate change and increased potential for disasters.

7 May 2010: The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) has released its complete set of biofuels sustainability standards. The numerous standards compiled in this database range from a technical draft for EU market access to standards approved for pilot testing on: chains of custody; certification and accreditation bodies; and application of rules to specific conditions.

10 May 2010: The World Bank held one in a series of consultations with civil society on its new environment strategy. During the 10 May consultation, the growing importance of climate change within the World Bank's environment agenda and concerns by civil society on the Bank's funding of fossil fuels were highlighted.